10 things to do in San Francisco

Happy #traveltuesday readers!

Today’s Guest post is by the lovely WMW who is an avid traveler and a famous Malaysian food blogger. Cumi & Ciki have always been great fans of her website and so when she said yes to being featured on this blog, we were over the moon! Here she is writing about one of her favourite travel destinations, San Francisco.

There’s really so much to see and experience in San Francisco that made it hard for me to narrow down the long list to just 10 Things To Do In San Francisco.  Having been there for about 8 times now over the years visiting my sister and family, I fell in love with San Francisco when I arrived at the bay for the very first time.  This list talks about some new experiences I had on my most recent trip last year and those that I keep going back to time and time again. Anyway, here’s my list of 10 Things To Do In San Francisco (in no particular order), void of the usual places that tourists flock to.  I hope that you will find the same joy as I did if ever you visit these places that I’ve recommended.

1. Farmerbrown’s Little Skillet

Little Skillet

Great food, great coffee plus sunshine and fresh air, that’s happiness indeed. I just love farmer brown’s Little Skillet! Keeping true to their words in serving the local community with wholesome Southern American classics (as written on Little Skillet’s website), it was just an overall wonderful experience for me as I took in not only the delicious free range Petaluma chicken and waffle but also the warmth from the summer sunshine and that exuded from this tiny little place that is located along a tiny one way street! One is encouraged to access Little Skillet on foot or by riding a bicycle.

Add:
360 Ritch Street (between 3rd & 4th Street) Click HERE for location map
San Francisco, CA 94107-1746

2. Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks night view

Make sure you go up to Twins Peak (about 15 minutes drive from downtown) for it’s one of the best spots for a great view of the city.  Elevated more than 900 ft above, the 360 degree view of San Francisco city from Twin Peaks is breathtaking – be it day time or night time!  It can get rather windy, so make sure you grab a jacket and do check the weather report ahead to make sure it isn’t a foggy day on the day/night you plan to make a trip up here.

Add:
501 Twin Peaks Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94114

3. Sonoma County

Sonoma

San Francisco Bay Area itself consists of 9 counties : Alameda, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, Contra Costa, Solano and Sonoma. Located about 45 miles away from San Francisco, Sonoma is one of the most agriculturally productive countries and home to more than 300 award winning wineries. Check out the listing of wineries online and enquire about participating in one of the many Wine Release Parties that are held occasionally if your timing is right.  You can also go for a wine tasting session (or two or three or more!) and a walkabout at the many vineyards in the area.  You can find good food (at the Wine Release Parties) and good wine – take it all in together with the lovely surrounding scenery and great ambiance and you will wish that you could stay here in the wineries forever!

Add:
San Francisco Bay Area


4. Capital Restaurant

Capital Chicken Wings

If you’re ever in Chinatown and need to feed your stomach, make that pit stop at Capital Restaurant. What’s a must order here? Fried Chicken Wings with Salt & Hot Pepper! These chicken wings live up to their wicked reputation as I found myself enticed and sucked into their world of hot spices! Everything is spicy – from the crispy skin to the tender the meat itself. Note, only the middle part of the wings are served, which makes it that much better! Devoid of the smell of oil, these delicious chicken wings lured us all so easily into sinful indulgence. Another noteworthy dish to order : Sliced Pacific Clams with glass noodles (served in clam shells)

Add:
839 Clay Street (between Stockton & Grant)
San Francisco, CA 94108


5. Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Woods

Named after naturalist, John Muir, Muir Woods was declared a national monument by Theodore Roosevelt back in 1908 and it’s part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.. The star attraction of Muir Woods are the Coast Redwood trees (also know as Sequoia), the tallest type of tree in the world! The tallest redwood tree in Muir Woods stands at 258 feet, though it’s been said that they can grow up to 380 feet tall with a diameter of 20 feet! The serenity and the beauty of nature here is majestic, truly such a marvel.

Add:
Mill Valley, CA94941


6. Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate

A must for all visiting San Francisco regardless of whether it’s a tourist hot spot as this IS one of the most recognizable landmarks here.  Golden Gate Bridge is something that you have to see up close for yourself. When you do, it’s surreal … Its gigantic dimensions enables one to get different views and angles of it, at any of the other popular spots around the bay.


7. Marin Headlands

Marin Headlands

Another part of the Golden Gate National Area and north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands offers a breathtaking view of the bay area. Wildlife like hawks, eagles, falcons, vultures are found here and it’s also home to large populations of  rabbits, raccoons, deer, bobcats and river otters to name a few. This is one place that you can go to if you fancy some hiking activity.


8. Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon

BBB

I’ve seen Beach Blanket Babylon twice during my trips to San Francisco and enjoyed every single minute of it. Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon, the longest running musical revue in theater history, is a zany musical spoof of pop culture with extravagant costumes and outrageously huge hats. Info from the web – With sold-out performances since 1974, Beach Blanket Babylon is an internationally acclaimed San Francisco institution. With more than 12,000 performances in San Francisco, the show has performed for standing room only during its London and Las Vegas engagements. Beach Blanket Babylon continually evolves in its hilarious parodies of current events and popular icons as todays headlines unfold. Find out more about Beach Blanket Babylon showtimes and ticket prices HERE.  Make sure you catch it as it’s a riot!  The epitome of what San Francisco is all about!

*Photo from Beach Blanket Babylon official website.

Add:
Club Fugazi
678 Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard (Click HERE for MAP)
Green Street , San Francisco CA 94133


9. North Beach area

North Beach

This is the “Little Italy” part of San Francisco and also one of the “red light” districts, providing exciting nightlife. With its artsy and unique stores in the location, this is one of the more interesting areas to sit back , relax with a cup of coffee and do some people watching. Famous writers like Jack Kerouac lived in this neighbourhood.  The “Beatnik Culture” started here with the rise of poetic community in the 1950s that made North Beach the center of the San Francisco Renaissance.


10. Sausalito

*photo from tripadvisor

Take a ferry ride across to Sausalito from the pier and arrive at a quaint and lovely city of the San Francisco Bay. We usually make just a day trip over here to enjoy the sights. The floating homes (houseboats) add to the lovely scenery which has a community who obviously appreciates art judging by the stores here.  Art collectors, take note – There are lots of art studios and galleries which never fail to amaze us with the fine art pieces and also fun creations and crafts at the same time.  Try to make it for the Sausalito Art Festival, usually held annually over Labour Day weekend ( this year, on Sept 4th – 6th) where world class collections of fine arts and crafts are showcased.

earAbout this week’s guest blogger :

WMW is a hip and happening lass who quit the corporate life more than a decade ago to “Live. Laugh. Love” ..  for life is great and should be celebrated everyday! Her passions include eating and traveling and she has been blessed with many opportunities to do so along the way.  WMW says she definitely eats way more than she travels though, and it will be evident when you meet her one day!

WMW’s website: You get what you Give

Follow her on twitter : @ugwug



24 Comments

  • So cool! Sausalito almosts looks like an idlylic Greek seaside town, from afar….

  • Yay WMW! She has the best travel pics in the entire blogosphere!

  • San Fransisco would be good to visit … once you escape USA search procedures 😉 Golden Gate Bridge would be really cool to photograph from some new angles. Not sure what you can get aways with over there these days?

  • wmw says:

    Sorry that it took me a while to do this…hahaha. Made me wish I was back in San Francisco again :o(

  • Jeremy B says:

    Being so close to San Francisco, these are great tips and good pictures. Just an FYI for those wanting to visit – summer is VERY cold in San Francisco. The best time to visit is in late September and early October. A lot of sunshine and nice weather then.

  • Sean says:

    hey, this is coincidental! i’m currently reading this book, ‘beautiful as yesterday,’ about a family of chinese immigrants living around san francisco.
    anyways, the golden gate bridge looks spectacular! heheh, puts the penang bridge to shame, eh…

  • Apple says:

    Brings back great memories….. I did leave my heart in San Francisco….
    getting teary now!

  • minchow says:

    When I look and read about places like San Francisco, the inevitable questions come up: shouldn’t we explore the idea of living in different places before we expire? I mean Malaysia will always be home yes, but think of the perspective one gets from spending a few years in a completely different place! Esp one that looks like Sausalito!

  • Brother B says:

    “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)”

  • LeslieTravel says:

    San Francisco has so much to offer! I want to try out The Skillet on my next visit. Thanks for the entertaining post!

  • SFBayGuide says:

    Ok, first of all, nearly half those places are not even IN San Francisco! And as for “void of the usual places that tourists flock to”, sorry but most of those place are the top draws for tourists. Not that they shouldn’t be, because they are awesome, just expect lots of out-of-town company.

    I live here, and here are some of my favorites…
    1. Go to Point Reyes, see the earthquake trail, and then hike out to Arch Rock on the Bear Valley Trail.
    2. Catch some live music and dancing at Top of the Mark (top floor of the Mark Hopkins), on Nob Hill.
    3. When there is a full moon, rent some kayaks at Sea Trek in Sausalito and paddle out around Richardson Bay among the houseboats. Or to Angel Island.
    4. On a rare warm night, head out to Ocean beach, build a bonfire and sip some wine.
    5. Catch the Farmers Market along the Embarcadero
    6. Ride a bike in Golden Gate Park out to where the buffalo roam
    7. Go for a jog along Crissy Field from Fort Mason to the Golden Gate Yacht club, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.
    8. Take a hike from Mill Valley to the top of Mt Tam and check out the 100 mile view
    9. Walk down Fillmore Street til you find a restaurant that speaks to you.
    10. Spread a blanket and watch the sun set from Stinson beach.

    Whatever you do, please don’t go to Fisherman’s Wharf during the summer wearing shorts and sandals. You’ll be miserably cold, and the locals will have a good laugh at the site of you:)

  • I love WMW’s food posts!! Always leaves me hungry… and I so wanna visit Sausalito one day… after watching the Leon Lai/Maggie Cheung film set there… *blushes*

  • michael says:

    haven’t been to san francisco yet, but its on the cards for 2011. cant wait to see the US for the first time. especially the golden gate bridge.

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